Welcome

Welcome to the POZ/AIDSmeds Community Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people with HIV/AIDS, their friends/family/caregivers, and
others concerned about HIV/AIDS. Click on the links below to browse our various forums; scroll down for a glance at the most recent posts; or join in the
conversation yourself by registering on the left side of this page.

Privacy Warning: Please realize that these forums are open to all, and are fully searchable via Google and other search engines. If you are HIV positive
and disclose this in our forums, then it is almost the same thing as telling the whole world (or at least the World Wide Web). If this concerns you, then do not use a
username or avatar that are self-identifying in any way. We do not allow the deletion of anything you post in these forums, so think before you post.

The information shared in these forums, by moderators and members, is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between an individual and his/her own
physician.

All members of these forums are, by default, not considered to be licensed medical providers. If otherwise, users must clearly define themselves as such.

Forums members must behave at all times with respect and honesty. Posting guidelines, including time-out and banning policies, have been established by the moderators
of these forums. Click here for “Am I Infected?” posting guidelines. Click here for posting guidelines pertaining to all other POZ/AIDSmeds community forums.

We ask all forums members to provide references for health/medical/scientific information they provide, when it is not a personal experience being discussed. Please
provide hyperlinks with full URLs or full citations of published works not available via the Internet. Additionally, all forums members must post information which are
true and correct to their knowledge.

Finished Reading This? You can collapse this or any other box on this page by clicking the
symbol in each box.

Welcome to Am I Infected

IMPORTANT UPDATE
Posted Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Welcome to the "Am I Infected?" POZ forum.

New members -- those who have posted three or fewer messages -- are permitted to post questions and responses, free of charge (make them count!). Ongoing participation in the "Am I Infected?" forum -- posting more than three questions or responses -- requires a paid subscription.

A seven-day subscription
is $9.99, a 30-day subscription is $14.99 and a 90-day subscription is $24.99.

Anyone who needs to post more than three messages in the "Am I Infected?" forum -- including past, present and future POZ Forums members -- will need to subscribe, with
secure payments made via PayPal.

There will be no charge to continue reading threads in the
"Am I Infected?" forum, nor will there be a charge for participating
in any of the Main Forums; Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits; and Off Topic
Forums. Similarly, all POZ and AIDSmeds pages,
including our "How is HIV
Transmitted?" and "Am I Infected? (A
Guide to Testing for HIV)" lessons, will remain accessible to
all.

NOTE: HIV testing questions will still need to be posted in the "Am I
Infected?" forum; attempts to post HIV symptoms or testing questions in any other forums will be considered violations of our rules of membership and subject to time-outs and permanent bans.

To learn how to upgrade your Forums account
to participate beyond three posts in the "Am I Infected?" Forum, please click here.

Thank you for your understanding
and future support of the best online support service for people living with,
affected by and at risk for HIV.

Author
Topic: How long can HIV survive outside the body? (Read 8686 times)

I recently went to a massage palor, had a regular massage no any kind of extra service. The thing is, I'm just worried because after the session was done I went to their bathroom and saw all their grooming things I used their new disposable toothbrush except for the toothpaste which was a tube type. Question, can I get infected using that toothpaste if the previous user was infected, I'm worried because while I was brushing I had bleeding gums because of I think much force in brushing. I know this is kind of silly question but I just needed your opinion on this. By the way, I was already cleared from my previous protected encounters because had two test last January and June this year. But this brushing incident happened only last week and I'm worried. Thanks.

Please read our lessons section on transmission. Rodney gave you the pertinent facts.

You cannot get HIV from toothpaste, toothbrushes. massage oil, or lube. HIV is an extremely fragile virus.

Use a condom for anal and vaginal sex and you will protect yourself from HIV.

Logged

"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

Thanks for the assurance, I'm just being paranoid lately because of the news that has been shown often here in the Philippines about the rising case of HIV infection. Was worried because my gums bled while brushing my teeth and if the toothpaste I used which was previously used by an infected person and the virus survived then I might get infected. Thanks. That is why my title was such, cause I don't know how long does the virus survive when exposed to the air.

Hiv is a fragile, difficult to transmit virus that is primarily transmitted INSIDE the human body where the virus never leaves the confines of the two bodies.

Once outside the body, small changes in temperature, and pH and moisture levels all quickly damage the virus and render it unable to infect. For this reason, you're not going to become infected with hiv in or on things in the environment, including toothpaste, food, doorknobs, sheets or anything else.

Here's what you need to know in order to avoid hiv infection:

You need to be using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, every time, no exceptions until such time as you are in a securely monogamous relationship where you have both tested for ALL sexually transmitted infections together.

To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with an STI. Sex without a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.

Have a look through the condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.

ALTHOUGH YOU DO NOT NEED TO TEST OVER THIS TOOTHPASTE INCIDENT, anyone who is sexually active should be having a full sexual health care check-up, including but not limited to hiv testing, at least once a year and more often if unprotected intercourse occurs.

If you aren't already having regular, routine check-ups, now is the time to start. As long as you make sure condoms are being used for intercourse, you can fully expect your routine hiv tests to return with negative results.

Don't forget to always get checked for all the other sexually transmitted infections as well, because they are MUCH easier to transmit than hiv. Some of the other STIs can be present with no obvious symptoms, so the only way to know for sure is to test.

Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

■Please do not start a new thread every time you have another question or thought - regardless if you think your questions are related to each other or not. It helps us to help you when you keep all your thoughts or questions in one thread and it helps other readers to follow the discussion. Additional threads will be merged.■If you cannot find your thread, click on the "Show own posts" link in the left-hand column of any forum page, under your name.

I'm sorry, how do I merge this post? To go back to my previous post? Regarding my question, was there any research done on that activity or any other sexual activities other that anal or vaginal intercourse to arrive at conclusions that they are categorized as high, low and no risks from HIV infection?

I've merged your threads here. This is the only thread you should be using in the future.

We're not here to provide you with statistics. We're here to evaluate specific situations in terms of risk. In your case we know that sucking the nipple of an HIV positive woman is not a risk for an adult. Only an infant less than 6 months old is at risk because at that point the baby's immune system has not kicked in. As an adult you have your immune system for protection and your saliva has over a dozen elements and proteins which very effective prevent the transmission of viable HIV.

Thanks Andy for the reply, I was just worried but you calmed me down. Just want to find out that was there any documented case of HIV infection because of nipple sucking? Thanks. I'm just getting paranoid lately because I did get a hand job and sucked the nipple of a therapist last July 5 and now I'm having mild sore throat and running nose. But was tested last January and June and got non reactive results for my last year's protected intercourse.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Thanks for the reply Ann, I'm now getting more calmed down. I was just worried because I had developed mild sore throat and running nose, this made me think immediately of what I did in my last incident with the therapist (hand job and sucking her nipples), had a connection to it. I have been confused because when I asked some health workers here, most of them would say it's a risk, while in the net it's not when I went to surf some information. So when I ask the health workers why they say it's a risk they just tell me that it is still bodily secretion and if you have cuts or sores in your mouth then it's a risk.

Knowing that the incident I got into had a no risk for HIV infection. Is it safe to say that I should put all these anxieties to rest. Treat my mild sore throat as a simple sore throat and no need to get tested? Thanks for your support. Till my next concern.

Hello Ann, just talked with my doc a while ago, he told me no need to take any tests anymore unless another sexual encounter again which is unprotected. Thanks. Your explanation was same as his. The only difference is that he told me that condoms are not 100 percent protection just but still it is a very good protection. Thanks.

Nothing is 100% safe except sex with your own hand. But properly worn and without any breakage, condoms have a solid and longstanding record of providing very effective protection against HIV transmission.

Hello Andy, I just woke up and still have running nose and mild sore throat. Do you think that getting a test again after one month would put my little anxiety to rest. I feel relieved already, but there is still a little doubt that is playing at the back of my mind and it some how bothers me, or based on your assessment of my case with your expertise in the field is confident I really don't need any test anymore. This running nose and mild sore throat is really making me a little bit worried. But no fever and other stuff. Thanks.

Hello rapid rod, since your here at the moment, can I ask a question and please give me your opinion on my last question. My question, can you get infected when during the handjob, I got scratched by the therapist in the groin area which irritated my skin but didn't bleed. Thanks.

Now I am going to warn you that if you continue to return here about worries and what ifs over a non-risk incident, you are going to find yourself getting a Time Out from the site. You have not had a risk and as long as you consistently and properly use condoms for vaginal/anal intercourse you won't have a problem in terms of sexual risk. HIV is a fragile virus and only transmitted in certain specific ways which have been explained to you.

Sorry for posting some non-risk incident. I was just really worried anyway, I am now satisfied with your answers. So till the next question that I'll be encounter regarding HIV. Thanks and my apologies.

Guys, is it HIV related when everytime I wake up anytime in the wee hours of the night and feeling that my body is feeling shivering? I'm on maintenance medicine for high blood currently. It happened to be 2 days now. I don't have fever and stuff. My last incident was just nipple sucking and handjob last July 5,2012. I'm also having palpitations and high blood pressure. Please don't penalize me I'm just worried again. Your explanation is highly appreciated. During the mornings, I'm alright. I'm suspecting it's my maintenance medicine's side effects. But I like to hear from you guys. Thank you very much.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts